Brake-chain-operating means



July 2s, l1921'.

` -M. L. HOWELL BRAKE CHA-TN OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan.16,`1925 PatentedJuly 26, 1927.`

UNITED STATES MARTIN L. HOWELL, OF FREEDOM, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-CHAIN-OIERATING MEANS.

Application led January 16, 1926. Seriali No. 81,669.

The present invention relates to brake 'ehain operating means.

More particularly the present invention relates to means for winding achain or` application of thebrakes and causing dam-v,

age to the cars and contents. One of the largest items in loss anddamage payments, which payments run into millions of dollars yearly, isattributed to rough handling, the greater percentage of which is done inswitching service. y An object of the present invention is to providechain winding means Which will enable a switchman to have full controlof his car at all times.

A further object is to provide chain Winding means which is simple inconstruction, which is readily applicable to brake staffs as nowcommonly used, and Whichwill effectually prevent the bunching of thebrake chain as above referred to.

A further object is to provide simple winding mechanism which willautomatically distribute a chain being wound thereon to preventbunching. i

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds. Y

- Referring to the drawings-- Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of abrake staff having an embodiment of the present invention ap ,liedthereto, the chain associated therewith being in slack position;

Fi ure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the chain in tautcondition;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the planeindicated by the arrows 3--3 0f Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane indicatedby the arrows 4-4 of Figure 1.

The numeral l indicates a brake staff which may be the regular brakestaff commonly encountered in service. The brake staff 1 is commonlyrovided with a reduced end portion Q, w ich is mounted within a but erplate B. It is nommen practise to secure the end of the brake chain tothe brake staff l and to wind said brake cha-in upon said staff 1. v

According to the present invention, a winding member 4 is provided,which s of thevform of a frustum of a cone, the smaller portion of whichis uppermost. It will be clear from an inspection of the drawings thatthe illustrated member 4 has a conformation varying somewhat from themathematica-l definition of a frustum ,of a cone, said conformationbeing tliatdeveloped by the rotation ofa curved line rotated about theaxis of the brake staff 1. The particular curvature of a vertical linedefining theexterior `surface of the lmember 4 ymay be chosen as desiredto suit conditions, a true frusto-conical conformation beingcontemplated if such a conformation is preferred. The winding member 41isv non-rotatably connected to the brake staff 1 by` means of anypreferred holding means, as for example a cotter pin, or, `asillustrated inV the drawing, a bolt 5 and nut 6.V Said bolt 5 isdisposed within a diametrical hole 5 in the staff 1, which hole hasheretofore been provided for the holding means for securing the Windingchainto said brake staff.

The member 4 is slotted at itsupper eX- tremity as indicated by thenumeral 7 thereby rendering the present invention ap- J plicable tobrake staffs in which the holes 5 are disposed at different distancesfrom the lower extremities thereof. v Y

The Winding chain is indicated by the numeral 8, one end of said chain 8being sei cured to the bolt `5 and the other end of said chain beingsecured to the brake mechanism of the car (not shown). It will be clear,of course, that instead of the bolt 5 and nut 6, acotter pin may beused. A cotter pin 9 is illustrated at the bottom of the device forpreventing vertical movement of the brake staff 1. Though the member 8has been referred to herein as a chain, it

will be clear that any equivalent flexible member, such as a cable, maybe used. The term chainv is used for the reason that it is a termcommonly used in the art, but it is to be construed to include aflexible cable.

The cost of installation of the present invention is almost negligible.In installing the present invention, the operative will 'remove the'usual nouer pin 9 and renie-'ve the acuer pin or other holding' meansfor securing the brake chain to the usual form of hrlgefsteli'.` Theoperative will raise the stati', insert the member t on' the lowerextremity thereof, mount the stuff with the end portionrf thereof inthefmmbl- 3Min@ Y6* y `place the Cotter pins or other holding means.

ll I,

By reason of the slot 7, the'in'ventionis ap.- plicable to brake staffsin which the holding member 5 Vis located' et dierent distances vfromthe lowerextremity of thehralte steif.

ln practice it `will be clear thatthe brake ehainJB, provided saidbrakey chain is extended leterally from 1 vertieallydispose'd brakesteitywill under sleek conditions tend j :Sterf ",ftoffdispgose itselfupon the lower portions of lthjelwnding means Such conditions? areillustrated in Figure l. UWhen the' brake isf'tutned, "however, findVthe' "brake" chain utilnder tension, the pulll in said brake o In "Willfeause smeto slide upwardly feds llilstratedlin Figure 2. Theref isheire- "being put under tension* 'torvr-(tp Vitselt'in hunehes 1aboutthe Abrake Winding means." The resentinyention hasffproven itself"valueble tail, mgrny modifications" will"oeou1"` tothose skilledinthe'art It' is intended to cover nll such modifieationstht fhll withinthe' scope of the eppende'cile'lnims;`

What iselimed isa-f f v1.j1neomhihetion, ehr'nlte ,steli having a VVhotethe'rethroughfrfor*the `insertion of chain securing" Ineens iatruste-coment V:member mounted uponfseidfhrttke Steff having yits ysmaller egitremity u'ppermost,A linin- Iseeurng meens-disposed" injseclhole 'and in said yfrusfnd"flnto-eonieal memherto turn' as a, unit,

j ing Ineens disposed in said `holeand infA 'truste-commi 'rner'nherl toCause said hljeke und a chain secured to said chain securing means." i

` 2. In combination, nbrnke stuff having a hole therethrough for theinsertion ol ehun seeuringnmans, :1 fyusto-eonieel memher mounted uponsaid brake stati' having its smallerextremity uppermost, chain securingmeans disposed in said hole and in said frueto-eonicnl member to causesaid brake Stuff and frusto-eonicel member t0 turn as n unit, and achain 'secured to suidehain seel'u'iug means, said chain securing-meansheingdsposed 'adjacent to the smaller extremity of said frusto-conieelmember.`

' 3. In Combination, a brake stad having n holeftherethrough for theinsertion of 'chain seeuringmeans, a frusto-conieal member mounteduponsaid hrak'estai having* its smaller extremity uppermost-1,y chain"securstnif and frustoiconicnl member toiturn as ey unit, andzrChmnseeuredtotaldehni ,securlng meansgsaid truste-conica] memberhavsaid inge longitudinzlslot atitssmallerextremJ ity'llfor receivingsaid ehnin securing means.

4., Chain winding menus comprising invertically' disposed truste-conicallmember,"` the smaller extremityl et W-hiohffis uppermost,

end chain securing menns"`seeured tosaidj` -frust'o-eonienl memberacjlja'eent Ato 'they upper extremity thereofk i 'f 5; `Chain Winding@winding stati', :L frustoconicel kmemlier mounted` thereon; seidfrustomonionl `me1n ber having its smaller extremity uppermost, unnperturethrough 4said `Winding steif, :t

slot) in thelsnmller endet said frusto-eoniezll n'l'em'her adaptedtohehroughtiuin coinci-` dence with seid uperture, :r windingelmin, undmeansdmvngthe double tiunction of preventing relative' rotation betweensaid staff! andi seid truste-conicalmember und for securing one end ofsaid Winding chain'. 1

7 Signed at' Freedom, Pennsylvenizuthis day of Jan. 13, 1926.

j; Mit-wrm L: s Howlett.

